Digital image viewing system, a cellar phone and a digital photo frame

ABSTRACT

A digital image viewing system comprises a wireless phone unit, a battery charger for the wireless phone unit and a digital photo frame in short-range wireless communication with the wireless phone unit. The digital photo frame may include phone function unit. Usual slide show is played on display of digital photo frame and replaced by a special image when a speaker of digital photo frame plays a ringer melody. The special image relates to a person causing the ringer melody. An operation at the wireless phone unit is transmitted to the digital photo frame through the short-range wireless communication to change the special image back to the usual slide show. Upon receipt of e-mail with image data attached, cellar phone automatically but conditionally opens the e-mail and takes out the image data to transmit it to digital photo frame through the short-range wireless communication or direct contact with battery charger.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/748,379 filed Mar. 27, 2010 herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a digital image viewing system, such asdigital photo frame.

2. Description of the Related Art

In this field of art, various digital image viewing systems have beenproposed for enjoying digital images taken by digital camera or thelike. A typical example of the digital image viewing system is a digitalphoto frame. As to digital photo frame, various proposals have made suchas in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2008-236395.

However, there still remains a demand in this field of art to improvethe digital image viewing system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a digital image viewing systemeasy to enjoy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cellar phoneincorporated into a digital image viewing system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved digitalphoto frame.

To achieve one of the above objects, this invention provides a digitalimage viewing system comprising a wireless phone unit, a battery chargerfor the wireless phone unit and a digital photo frame in wirelesscommunication with the wireless phone unit. The wireless phone unit inthe system includes a phone short-range wireless communicator, anoperating portion, a phone display cooperating with the operatingportion for operations and displays relating to various phone functions,and a rechargeable battery to power the wireless phone unit. The batterycharger in the system is arranged to charge the rechargeable battery ofthe wireless phone unit. And, the digital photo frame includes a memoryarranged to store digital image data, a photo frame display, acontroller arranged to play usual slide show on the display on the basisof the digital image data stored in the memory, and a photo frameshort-range wireless communicator in communication with the phoneshort-range wireless communicator to change the image display on thephoto frame display.

According to the image viewing system above, the digital photo frame iscapable of playing slide show of digital image on the display andcooperating with phone function for changing the image display on thedisplay.

According to a detailed feature of this invention, the digital photoframe further includes a speaker, wherein the controller of the digitalphoto frame is arranged to replace the usual slide show with a specialimage when the speaker plays a ringer melody on the speaker. In thiscase, the user can know the incoming on the phone function withinformation of the change in the image display added. According to afurther detailed feature of this invention, the controller of thedigital photo frame is further arranged to superimpose a message on thespecial image when the speaker plays the ringer melody. According toanother detailed feature of this invention the controller of the digitalphoto frame is further arranged to have the usual slide show accompaniedby background music played on the speaker and to stop the backgroundmusic when the speaker plays the ringer melody. According to stillanother detailed feature of this invention, the special image isrelating to the ringer melody in such a manner that the special image isrelating to a person causing the ringer melody, for example.

According to another detailed feature of this invention, the phoneshort-range communicator is arranged to transmit an operation at theoperating portion to the digital photo frame by way of the photo frameshort-range wireless communicator to change the display on the photoframe. In this case, for example, the automatic change in image displayfrom usual slide show to the special image can be manually changed backto the usual slide show by means of an operation at the wireless phoneunit.

According to still another detailed feature of this invention, thedigital photo frame further includes a phone function unit. Or,alternatively, the wireless phone unit further includes a phone functionunit. In any case, the features relating to the cooperation between thedigital photo frame function and phone function mentioned above can beachieved.

A typical example of wireless phone unit including the phone functionunit is a cellar phone. Focusing to such a case, this invention providesa cellar phone comprising a phone function unit capable of receiving ane-mail with digital image data is attached, a controller arranged toautomatically open the e-mail and automatically take out the attacheddigital image data, and a transmitter arranged to automatically transmitthe taken out digital image data to outside of the cellar phone.According to this feature, the digital image transmitted to the cellarphone in the form of e-mail is easily enjoyed in outside of the cellarphone, such as in digital photo frame. In a detailed feature, thetransmitter includes a short-range wireless communicator. Or,alternatively, the transmitter includes a communication contact.Further, the transmitter may include both.

According to another detailed feature of the above cellar phone, thecontroller is arranged to automatically open the e-mail andautomatically take out the attached digital image data with apredetermined condition met. This is advantageous to avoid confusion orbreach of privacy, which may be otherwise caused by automaticallyopening the e-mail and automatically taking out the digital image datato transmit it outside. The simplest example of the condition is whetheror not the e-mail is accompanied by digital image data. Another exampleof the condition is whether or not the digital image data is ofopen-sourced in which the sender of the digital image data has allowedthe receiver to display the digital image. Still another example of thecondition is whether or not any IP address of outside viewer such asdigital photo frame is registered as the destination of the digitalimage data. Further example of the condition is whether or not theshort-range communication is possible in wireless case. Or, in thecontact communication case, an example of the condition is whether ornot the cellar phone is mounted on battery charger or the like.

According to another feature of this invention such a digital photoframe is provided that the digital photo frame comprises a memoryarranged to store digital image data, a photo frame display, a receiverarranged to receive digital image data from outside of the digital photoframe, a controller arranged to play usual slide show on the display onthe basis of the digital image data stored in the memory and to replacethe usual slide show with a special image when the receiver receivesdigital image data from outside of the digital photo frame.

According to a detailed feature of the above digital photo frame, thereceiver includes a short-range wireless communicator. Or,alternatively, the receiver includes a communication contact. Further,the receiver may include both.

According to another detailed feature, the digital photo frame abovefurther comprises a speaker, wherein the controller is arranged toreplace the usual slide show with the special image accompanied by aringer melody played on the speaker.

According to a still another detailed feature of the above digital photoframe, the controller is further arranged to superimpose a message onthe special image when the receiver receives digital image data fromoutside of the digital photo frame.

As another detailed feature, the above digital photo frame may furthercomprises a phone function unit.

Other features and advantages according to this invention will bereadily understood from the detailed description of the preferredembodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment according to thisinvention includes various detailed features derived from the abovementioned features. However, such detailed features are not onlyapplicable to the above mentioned features, but also are widely andindependently applicable to other objects and features. So, the abovedescription should not be deemed to limit the scope of this invention,which should be properly determined on the basis of the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofcellar phones are located within the communication range of photo frameshort-range wireless communicator according to the first embodiment inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofdigital photo frames are located with there communication ranges ofrespective short-rang communicators overlapping, within which aplurality of cellar phones exist, according to the first embodiment inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention.

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofcellar phones are located within the communication range of photo frameshort-range wireless communicator according to the second embodiment inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofdigital photo frames and battery chargers exist in the system accordingto the second embodiment in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the fourth embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart commonly showing the function carried out by phoneprocessor in the first to fourth embodiments in FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart commonly showing the function carried out byphoto frame processor in the first to fourth embodiments in FIGS. 1, 4,7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system including digital photo frame 2, cellar phone 4 andbattery charger 6. Digital photo frame 2 includes photo frame display 8for displaying digital image under control of photo frame processor 12on the basis of image data stored in memory 10. Memory 10 is for furtherstoring computer programs executed by photo frame processor 12 and alsofor storing various temporary data necessary for photo frame processor12 to execute its function. According to the computer programs stored inmemory 10, photo frame processor 12 retrieves new image data stored inmemory 10 to replace digital image on photo frame display 8 by means ofdisplay driver 14.

Image data to be stored in memory 10 can be received from cellar phone 4by way of photo frame short-range wireless communicator 16 such asWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or “Bluetooth”. Photo frameshort-range wireless communicator 16 can also receive image data from adigital camera or the like for the storage in memory 10. Photo frameprocessor 12 can also retrieves new image data directly from a removablestorage medium inserted into memory card slot 18 to replace digitalimage on photo frame display 8. Or, the image data in the removablestorage medium inserted into memory card slot 18 can be once loaded intomemory 10, and then retrieved from memory 10 for display on photo framedisplay 8.

In response to a report from photo frame short-range wirelesscommunicator 16 that it receives new digital image data, photo frameprocessor 12 directs display driver 14 to superimpose a message such as“New!” onto the image display, and replace the existing image slide showby the newly received image. If multiple images are newly received, anew slid show begins at that time. The details of these functions willbe explained later. Further, upon receiving the new image or images,photo frame processor 12 replaces the usual background music for theexisting image slide show by predetermined special background music forthe new slide show for informing of the receipt of new image or images.The sound source of background music is stored in memory 10 for playingover speaker 13. The slide show of the new image or images accompaniedwith the special music continues until the predetermined operation madeat operating portion 19.

Operating portion 19 includes a direct manual controller such asoperation buttons as well as an infrared communicator for receivinginfrared remote control signal. Such an infrared communicator is capableof receiving infrared remote control signal from cellar phone 4. In thiscase, digital photo frame 2 with photo frame display 8 serves as alarger screen digital image viewing unit under the remote control bycellar phone 4 for viewing image taken by cellar phone 4. Power source20 for entire digital photo frame 2 supplies various portions of digitalphoto frame 2 with various voltages of power required, respectively.Power source 20 is connected to plug outlet 23 through AC adapter 22.

With respect to cellar phone 4, on the other hand, phone processor 24controls entire cellar phone 4, including phone function unit 26, inaccordance with computer programs stored in memory 28. Operating portion30 and phone display 32 are for operations and displays relating tovarious functions of phone function unit 26, respectively. Camera unit34 is capable of taking pictures in the camera mode of cellar phone 4 tostore digital image data of the taken pictures into memory 28 or astorage medium in memory card slot 36. The storage medium is removablefrom memory card slot 36 for insertion into memory card slot 18 ofdigital photo frame 2. Thus, the digital image taken by cellar phone 4and stored in the removable storage medium can be displayed on photoframe display 8 of digital photo frame 2 by means of the conveyance ofthe removable storage medium from memory card slot 36 to memory cardslot 18.

Cellar phone 4 is capable of transmitting and receiving digital imagedata to and from other cellar phones or digital image servers by meansof attaching the digital image data to e-mail to be transmitted throughthe function of phone function unit 26. Black thick arrow 27 denotesradio wave arrival to phone function unit 26 according to the cellarphone system. If E-mail with digital image data attached is received bycellar phone 4 through phone function unit 26, the received e-mail isautomatically opened under a predetermined condition to automaticallytransmit the attached digital image data from phone short-range wirelesscommunicator 38 to photo frame short-range wireless communicator 16 asdenoted by arrow of lightning 39. The details of these functions will beexplained later. A typical example of the above mentioned condition forautomatic open of e-mail is that cellar phone 4 is mounted on batterycharger 6 and also is located within the communication range of photoframe short-range wireless communicator 16. The digital image datatransmitted by phone short-range wireless communicator 38 is received byphoto frame short-range wireless communicator as a new image anddisplayed on photo frame display 8 in the manner described above. Thus,if E-mail with digital image data attached is newly received by cellarphone 4, the attached digital image data is automatically displayed bydigital photo frame 2 on photo frame display 8 under a predeterminedcondition.

Power source 42 for entire cellar phone 4 supplies various portions ofcellar phone 2 with various voltages of power required, respectively.Power source 42 relies its function on rechargeable battery 40 which isconnectable to plug outlet 23 through AC adapter 50 when cellar phone 4is mounted on battery charger 6 to establish the contact between contact44 on the cellar phone side and contact 48 on the battery charger side.As will be mentioned later, such a modification is possible that cellarphone 4 automatically opens the new e-mail upon its arrival toautomatically transmit the attached digital image data to digital photoframe from phone short-range wireless communicator 38 if possibleregardless of whether or not cellar phone 4 is mounted on batterycharger 6. According to the first embodiment of this invention above,the advantages of this invention can be achieved with less modificationto the conventional cellar phone and conventional digital photo frame.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofcellar phones are located within the communication range of photo frameshort-range wireless communicator 16 according to the first embodimentin FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, same reference number is used as in FIG. 1 todenote the same part common to the both figures with detailedsubstructures shown in FIG. 1 omitted in FIG. 2. In the case of FIG. 2,in addition to cellar phone 4 which is first mentioned, second cellarphone 62 within the range of short-range wireless communication withdigital photo frame 2 is mounted on second battery charger 64, which ispowered through AC adapter 66. Further, third cellar phone 68 apart fromits battery charger is located on a desk or the like also within therange of short-range communication with digital photo frame 2.

First cellar phone 4 and third cellar phone 68 both have received thesame e-mail from forth cellar phone 70 in the long distance by way ofradio waves 27 and 72 according to the cellar phone system,respectively. For example, fourth cellar phone 70 is of a daughterliving far off her parents, cellar phone 4 of her father, and cellarphone 62 of her mother, wherein photos of a grandson of the parents areattached to the e-mail from cellar phone 70. It is needless to say thatradio waves 27 and 72 come by way of base stations in the cellar phonesystem although they are symbolically shown in FIG. 2 as if they comedirectly form fourth cellar phone 70 to first cellar phone 4 and secondcellar phone 62, respectively.

The same e-mails received by first cellar phone 4 and third cellar phone68 are automatically opened, respectively. And, the attached digitalimage data, which corresponds to the photos of the grandson from thedaughter, are automatically transmitted to digital photo frame 2 throughthe short-range communication, respectively. In such a case, digitalphoto frame 2 receives the digital image transmission in order ofreceipt. In other word, during the receiving procedure of the first-comedigital image data, the commencement of receiving the second-comedigital image data is postponed. Further, if the second-come digitalimage data from one of first cellar phone 4 and third cellar phone 68 isidentical with the first-come digital image data from the other becauseof the same image data from fourth cellar phone 70 received by bothfirst cellar phone 4 and third cellar phone 68, digital photo frame 2eliminate the second-come digital image data form the arrival slide showfor avoiding redundant duplication. The duplication is detected indigital photo frame 70 by means of comparison between ID's of thedigital image data from first cellar phone 4 and third cellar phone 68,which are identical if the original is the same.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofdigital photo frames are located with there communication ranges ofrespective short-rang communicators overlapping, within which aplurality of cellar phones exist, according to the first embodiment inFIG. 1. In FIG. 3, same reference number is used as in FIGS. 1 and 2 todenote the same part common to the figures with detailed substructuresshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 omitted in FIG. 3. Further, second cellar phone62 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted in FIG. 3. In the case of FIG. 3, thirdcellar phone 68 automatically opens the email received from fourthcellar phone 70 to automatically transmit the attached digital imagedata to second digital photo frame 74 by means of short-rangecommunication. The second digital photo frame 74 is powered by plugoutlet 23 by way of AC adapter 76. First digital photo frame 2 andsecond digital photo frame 74 are each allotted IP addresses forshort-range communication, respectively. The IP address of first digitalphoto frame 2 is registered by first cellar phone 4 and the IP addressof second digital photo frame 74 by third cellar phone 68 to identifythe destinations of the digital image data transmission, respectively.In the case of FIG. 3, first digital photo frame 2 and second digitalphoto frame 74 each independently present their slide shows on the basisof the same digital image data from first cellar phone 4 and thirdcellar phone 68, respectively, even if they are both originated fromfourth cellar phone 70.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention. Since the structure ofthe second embodiment in FIG. 4 is basically similar to that of thefirst embodiment in FIG. 1, same reference number is used to denote thesame part common to both figures with explanation thereof basicallyomitted. The second embodiment in FIG. 4 includes cellar phone 104 anddigital photo frame 102 also serving as battery charger for cellar phone104. Thus, the second embodiment in FIG. 4 firstly differs from thefirst embodiment in FIG. 1 in that the digital photo frame and thebattery charger are integrated into one body.

The second point that the second embodiment in FIG. 4 differs from thefirst embodiment in FIG. 1 is that cellar phone 104 can automaticallytransmit the digital image data attached to the automatically openede-mail by way of wired communication through the contact betweencontacts 144 and 148 when the e-mail is received with cellar phone 104mounted on digital photo frame and battery charger 102. In the secondembodiment, phone short-range wireless communicator 38 in addition tothe wired communication through contact 144 is useful in such a casethat cellar phone 104 is not mounted on digital photo frame and batterycharger 102 but is located within the communication range of photo frameshort-range wireless communicator 16. However, such a simplifiedmodification of the second embodiment may be possible that the secondpoint is omitted by means of carrying out the automatic digital imagedata transmission only through the short-range wireless communicationbetween communicators 16 and 38 as in the first embodiment. In otherwords, the simplified second embodiment is characterized by theintegration of digital photo frame for cellar phone and battery chargeralso for cellar phone.

In more detail with respect to the wired communication for transmittingthe digital image data, digital photo frame and batter charger 102 onwhich cellar phone 104 is mounted includes contact 148 havingcommunication contact 248 in addition to the power supply contact forcharging. Correspondingly, cellar phone 104 includes contact 144 havingcommunication contact 244 in addition to the power receiving contact forcharging. Thus, digital image data attached to the e-mail received bycellar phone 104 is transmitted from phone processor 24 to photo frameprocessor 12 by way of communication contacts 244 and 248. AC adapter122 supplies power source 20 and charging contact 148 of digital photoframe and battery charger 102 with necessary powers, respectively.

According to the second embodiment, wired path for transmitting digitalimage data is prepared for a new arrival of e-mail with digital imagedata attached only by mounting cellar phone 104 on digital photo frameand battery charger 102 for the purpose of charging rechargeable battery40. This feature of adding communication contacts 244 and 248 to powercontacts 144 and 148, respectively, is very simple and advantageous evenin a case that at least one of cellar phone 104 and digital photo frameand battery charger 102 is designed to have no short-range wirelesscommunicator for the purpose of cost-cutting. In other words, the simplestructure of adding communication contacts 244 and 248 achieves theadvantageous feature that the digital image data attached to e-mailreceived by cellar phone 104 is automatically displayed on photo framedisplay 8 upon the arrival of the e-mail. Further, in the case thatcellar phone 104 apart from digital photo frame 102 has received anumber of e-mails with digital image data attached, respectively, thee-mails are automatically and collectively opened and all the newdigital image data attached thereto are automatically and collectivelytransmitted to digital photo frame and battery charger 102 throughcommunication contacts 244 and 248 once cellar phone 104 is mounted ondigital photo frame and battery charger 102 for charging rechargeablebattery 40. Thus, in the second embodiment, digital image data receivedby cellar phone 104 by e-mail is automatically displayed on photo framedisplay 8 only by the mounting of cellar phone 104 on digital photoframe and battery charger 102 without any special operation.

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofcellar phones are located within the communication range of photo frameshort-range wireless communicator 16 according to the second embodimentin FIG. 4. Also in FIG. 5, same reference number is used as in FIG. 4 todenote the same part common to the both figures with detailedsubstructures shown in FIG. 4 omitted in FIG. 5. In the case of FIG. 5,in addition to cellar phone 104 which is first mentioned, second cellarphone 62 within the range of short-range wireless communication withdigital photo frame 2 is mounted on second battery charger 64, which ispowered through AC adapter 66. Further, third cellar phone 68 apart fromits battery charger is located on a desk or the like also within therange of short-range communication with digital photo frame and batterycharger 102.

Similar to the case of FIG. 2, first cellar phone 104 and third cellarphone 68 both have received the same e-mail from forth cellar phone 70in the long distance by way of radio waves 27 and 72 according to thecellar phone system, respectively. The same e-mails received by firstcellar phone 104 and third cellar phone 68 are automatically opened totake out the attached digital image data, respectively. The digitalimage data taken out in first cellar phone 104 is automaticallytransmitted to digital photo frame and battery charger 102 by means ofwired communication through communication contacts 244 and 248. Thickarrow 78 denotes the wired transmission above. On the other hand, thedigital image data taken out in third cellar phone 68 is automaticallytransmitted to digital photo frame and battery charger 102 through theshort-range communication as in the case of FIG. 2. Similar to the caseof FIG. 2, digital photo frame and battery charger 102 receives thedigital image transmission in order of receipt, in which thecommencement of receiving the second-come digital image data ispostponed during the receiving procedure of the first-come digital imagedata. Further, if the second-come digital image data from one of firstcellar phone 104 and third cellar phone 68 is identical with thefirst-come digital image data from the other, digital photo frame andbattery charger 102 eliminate the second-come digital image data formthe arrival slide show for avoiding redundant duplication.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram showing such a case that a plurality ofdigital photo frames and battery chargers exist in the system accordingto the second embodiment in FIG. 4. In FIG. 6, same reference number isused as in FIGS. 4 and 5 to denote the same part common to the figureswith detailed substructures shown in FIG. 4 omitted in FIG. 6. Further,another cellar phone such as denoted by 62 in FIG. 5 is omitted in FIG.6. Alternatively, fifth cellar phone 82 of the similar structure to thatin first cellar phone 104 is shown with communication contact 80.Correspondingly, second digital photo frame and battery charger 86 ofthe similar structure to that in first digital photo frame and batterycharger 102 is shown with communication contact 84 and AC adapter 88,fifth cellar phone 82 being mounted on second digital photo frame andbattery charger 86 for both charging its rechargeable battery andtransmitting digital image data as in first digital photo frame andbattery charger 102.

As in the case of FIG. 5, first cellar phone 104 and fifth cellar phone82 both have received the same e-mail from forth cellar phone 70 in thelong distance by way of radio waves 27 and 72 according to the cellarphone system, respectively. The same e-mails received by first cellarphone 104 and fifth cellar phone 82 are automatically opened to take outthe attached digital image data, respectively. The digital image datataken out in first cellar phone 104 and firth cellar phone 82 areautomatically transmitted to first digital photo frame and batterycharger 102 and second digital photo frame and battery charger 86 bymeans of wired communication through the pair of communication contacts244 and 248 and the pair of communication contacts 80 and 84,respectively. Thick arrow 90 denotes the wired transmission in seconddigital photo frame and battery charger 86 as in thick arrow 78 forfirst digital photo frame and battery charger 102. In the case of FIG. 6similar to that in FIG. 3, first digital photo frame and battery charger102 and second digital photo frame and battery charger 86 eachindependently present their slide shows on the basis of the same digitalimage data from first cellar phone 104 and fifth cellar phone 82,respectively, even if they are both originated from fourth cellar phone70.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention. Since the structure ofthe third embodiment in FIG. 7 is basically similar to that of thesecond embodiment in FIG. 4, same reference number is used to denote thesame part common to both figures with explanation thereof basicallyomitted. The third embodiment in FIG. 7 includes digital photo frame202, cellar phone 104 and battery charger 206 for cellar phone 104.

The third embodiment in FIG. 7 is identical with the second embodimentin FIG. 4 as to the contact structure that contact 144 of cellar phone104 and contact 148 of battery charger 206 include communicationcontacts 244 and 248, respectively, for wired transmission of digitalimage data in addition to the power supply contacts for charging. Inother words, digital image data attached to the e-mail received bycellar phone 104 is transmitted from phone processor 24 to photo frameprocessor 12 by way of communication contacts 244 and 248. However, thethird embodiment in FIG. 7 differs from the second embodiment in thatdigital photo frame 202 and battery charger 206 are not integrated inone body. But, the wired communication is established by connectingcommunication contact 92 of battery charger 206 and communicationcontact 94 of digital photo frame 202 with external communication cable93.

The case of the third embodiment in FIG. 7, digital photo frame 202 isof simple construction with communication contact 94, which can beformed in accordance with the conventional communication standard whichcan be widely used for connection with other outside devices. In otherwords, the third embodiment can be simply realized and free fromdesigning a special structure in which digital photo frame and batterycharger are integrated into one body as in the second embodiment.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the fourth embodiment of a digitalimage viewing system according to this invention. Since the structure ofthe fourth embodiment in FIG. 8 is basically similar to that of thefirst to third embodiments in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, same reference number isused to denote the same part common to those figures with explanationthereof basically omitted. The fourth embodiment in FIG. 7 includesdigital photo frame 2, cellar phone 104 and battery charger 306 forcellar phone 104.

The third embodiment in FIG. 8 is identical with the third embodiment inFIG. 7 as to the contact structure that contact 144 of cellar phone 104and contact 148 of battery charger 306 include communication contacts244 and 248, respectively, for wired communication between cellar phone104 and battery charger 306. Further, the third embodiment in FIG. 8 isidentical with the third embodiment in FIG. 7 in that digital photoframe 2 and battery charger 306 are not integrated in one body. However,the fourth embodiment in FIG. 8 differs from the third embodiment inthat battery charger 306 is provided with charger short-rangecommunicator 96 for transmitting the digital image data, which has comefrom cellar phone 104 through the wired communication, to photo frameshort-range communicator 16 by means of the short-range wirelesscommunication.

According to the feature in the fourth embodiment in FIG. 8, path fortransmitting digital image data is prepared for a new arrival of e-mailwith digital image data attached only by mounting cellar phone 104 onbattery charger 302 for the purpose of charging rechargeable battery 40.Cellar phone 104 can still enjoy the above advantage even if cellarphone 104 is modified into such a simplified design that phoneshort-range wireless communicator 38 is omitted for cost-cutting.Further, battery charger 306 provided with charger short-range wirelesscommunicator 96 in the third embodiment serves as a station forshort-range wireless communication in general. In other word, the abovementioned simplified modification of cellar phone 104 without phoneshort-range wireless communicator 38 becomes capable of short-rangewireless communication with other variety of outside devices thandigital photo frame 2 during a period in which the modified cellar phone104 is being mounted on battery charger 306 for charging rechargeablebattery 40.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart commonly showing the function carried out by phoneprocessor 24 in the first to fourth embodiments in FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8.The flowchart in FIG. 9 only refers to functions relating to the receiptof e-mail and transmission of the attached digital image data to digitalphoto frame 2 or 102 or 202 with other functions including conventionalphone functions omitted to show. The flow in FIG. 9 starts when cellarphone 4 or 104 is powered ON to carry out start-up process in step S2for initializing cellar phone 4 or 104 and making preparation of itsfunction. Next, it is checked in step S4 whether or not cellar phone 4or 104 just receives a new e-mail.

If it is not determined in step S4 that cellar phone 4 or 104 justreceives a new e-mail, the flow goes to step S6 to check whether or notany e-mail which has already received is left unattended with respect tothe automatic opening for transmitting the attached e-mail if any todigital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202. If any, the flow goes to step S8.On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that cellar phone 4 or104 just receives a new e-mail, the flow also goes to step S8.

In step S8 it is checked whether or not digital image data is attachedto the e-mail. If any, the flow goes to step S10 to check whether or notthe digital image data is of open-sourced in which the sender of thedigital image data has allowed the receiver to display the digitalimage. Such allowance or inhibition of display on digital photo framecan be set by the sender at the time when the sender attaches thedigital image data to the e-mail. If it is determined in step S10 thatthe digital image data is of open-sourced, the flow goes to step S12 tocheck whether or not any IP address of digital photo frame 2 or 102 or202 or the like is registered as the destination of the digital imagedata.

If it is determined in step S12 that an IP address of digital photoframe 2 or 102 or 202 or the lake is registered as the destination ofthe digital image data, the flow goes to step S14 to check whethercellar phone 4 or 104 is mounted on battery charger 6 or 206 or 306 ordigital photo frame and battery charger 102. If not, the flow goes tostep S16 to check whether cellar phone 4 or 104 is located within theshort-range communication area of digital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202.And, if it is determined in step S16 that cellar phone 4 or 104 islocated within the short-range communication area of digital photo frame2 or 102 or 202, the flow goes to step S18. On the other hand, if it isdetermined in step S14 that cellar phone 4 or 104 is mounted on batterycharger 6 or 206 or 306 or digital photo frame and battery charger 102,the flow goes to step S20 to check whether or not the cellar phone is ofa type with contact 144 provided with communication contact 144 as incellar phone 104 and also the battery charger is of a type with contact148 provided with communication contact 248 as in battery charger 206 or306 or digital photo frame and battery charger 102. If it is notdetermined in step S20 that cellar phone is connected to battery chargerwith communication contacts, the flow goes to step S16 to check theshort-range communication capability. On the contrary, if it isdetermined in step S20 that cellar phone is connected to battery chargerwith communication contacts, the flow goes to step S18 regardless of theshort-range communication capability.

In step S18, the e-mail is automatically opened followed by step S22 toautomatically take out the attached digital image data. Next, it isautomatically directed in step S24 to transmit the taken-out digitalimage data to digital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202 by means of availablewired or wireless communication. And, it is checked in step S26 whetheror not the digital image data has been successfully transmitted todigital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202 within a predetermined time. In thecase of transmission success determined in step S26, the flow goes tostep S28 to put a mark as the evidence of successful transmission on thee-mil to which the digital image data attached, the flow then going tostep S30. On the other hand, if it is not determined within thepredetermined time in step S26 that the image data is successfullytransmitted, the flow directly goes to step S30 without putting thesuccess mark on the e-mail, which will be regarded as the “unattendede-mail” in step S6.

In step S30, the automatic e-mail closing and storing process is carriedout to put back the e-mail to the condition before automatically openedand to store it in memory 28. In other words, the e-mail is put back tothe condition before automatically opened through steps S26 and S30regardless of whether or not the digital image data has beensuccessfully transmitted to digital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202 within apredetermined time. The flow then goes to step S32 to check whether ornot the power of cellar phone 4 or 104 is turned OFF to go to the end ifthe power OFF is detected. On the other hand if it is not detected instep S32 that power is turned OFF, the flow returns to step S4 to waitfor a new e-mail. Thus, the flow repeats the loop of steps S4 to S32unless power OFF is detected in step S32.

If it is not determined in step S6 that any e-mail which has alreadyreceived is left unattended, or it is not determined in step S8 that anydigital image data is attached to the e-mail, or it is not determined instep S10 that any digital image data is of open-sourced, or it is notdetermined in step S12 that an IP address of any digital photo frame isregistered as the destination of the digital image data, or it is notdetermined in step S16 that cellar phone 4 or 104 is located within theshort-range communication area of digital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202,the flow in each case returns to step S4 to prepare for any change insituation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart commonly showing the function carried out byphoto frame processor 12 in the first to fourth embodiments in FIGS. 1,4, 7 and 8. Similarly to the case of FIG. 9, the flowchart in FIG. 10only refers to functions relating to the management of new image datatransmitted from cellar phone 4 or 104 with other functions includingconventional photo frame functions omitted to show. The flow in FIG. 10starts when digital photo frame 2 or 102 or 202 is powered ON to carryout start-up process in step S42 for initializing digital photo frame 2or 102 or 202 and for making preparation of its function. Next, in stepS44 a direction is made to start a usual slide show as in conventionaldigital photo frames.

The “usual slide show” above means a slide show which is carried out inaccordance with a conventional setting on the basis of digital imagedata stored in memory 10 or in the removable storage medium insertedinto memory card slot 18. A typical conventional setting for the usualslide show includes a selection of digital image data joining the slideshow, a setting for order of image appearing on photo frame display 8and a setting for background music to or not to accompany the slide showand selection of background music if necessary. The “usual slide show”also means in the simplest case that a single image data continues toappear on photo frame display 8 without any substitution by anotherimage data.

With the slide show started by step S44, the flow advances to step S46to check whether or not it is during reception of image data. If not,the flow goes to step 48 to check whether or not a new image dataarrives. If arrival of new image data is detected in step S48, the flowadvances to step S50 to check whether or not the new image data is thesame as an image data which has been already received. If not, the flowgoes to step S52 to stop current slide show, and in place of the currentslide show, a slide show of the received new image data starts in stepS54.

Further, in step S56, characters as “New !”, which is the messageindicative of the arrival of new image data, is superimposed on the newimage data on photo frame display 8. Nest in step S58, it is checkedwhether or not the stopped slide show has been carried out with abackground music accompanying. If it is determined in step S58 that thestopped slide show has been accompanied by usual background music, thebackground music is stopped in step S60, and, in place of the backgroundmusic, special background music indicative of the arrival of new imagedata, the flow then going to step S64. The play of the specialbackground music continues unless an predetermined operation is made,which is explained later in respect to step S64.

On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S58 that the stoppedslide show has been accompanied by usual background music, the flow goesto step S66 to direct playing a ringer melody which continues for a timeand automatically stops, the flow then going to step S64. In any caseregardless of the check in step S58, some notifying music such asspecial background music or ringer melody accompanies the slide show atleast in the beginning for aurally notifying the arrival of new imagedata in addition to the visual notification by the superimposition onthe display.

In step S64 it is checked whether or not an operation directing toreturn to the usual slide show is made. In other words, it is assumedthat a user noticing the arrival of the new image data may make theoperation at operating portion 30 to stop the slide show exclusively forthe new image data, which operation is to be detected in step S64. Ifthe operation for usual slide show is detected is step S64, the flowgoes to step S68 for directing to start the usual slide show includingthe newly received image data. In step S68, the special background musicor ringer melody is stopped and usual background music comebacks if theslide show is set to be accompanied by background music.

Next to the direction in step S68, it is checked in step S70 whether ornot a power off operation is made. By the way, if it is not detected instep S64 that an operation directing to return to the usual slide showis made. On the other hand, if the condition during reception of imagedata is detected in step S46, the flow goes to step S72 to signal theneighboring cellar phones or the like of the busy condition of thedigital photo frame, the flow then going to step S70. The busy signal iscontinued as long as the digital photo frame is receiving image data.Thus, if the digital photo frame is in the course of receiving imagedata form a first cellar phone, a second cellar phone cannot transmitits image data and waits ready until busy signal will stop with theimage data transmission from the first cellar phone completed. After thebusy condition signaling is started in step S72 the flow goes to stepS70. Further, if arrival of new image data is not detected in step S48,or if it is detected in step S52 that the new image data is the same asan image data which has been already received, the flow instantly goesto step S70.

If the power of operation is detected in step S70, the flow of FIG. 10ends. On the other hand, if the power off operation is not detected instep S70, the flow returns to step S46 to repeat steps S46 to S70. Inother words, the repetition of steps S46 to S70 is to continue datareceiving function if during reception of image data, or to wait for andrespond to an arrival of new image data if not during reception of imagedata.

The various features according to the present invention are not onlyapplicable to the embodiments explained above, but also to other typesof embodiments. For example, the features of digital photo frame shownin FIG. 10 are applicable to a type of digital photo frame having thephone function unit according to the cellar phone system capable ofreceiving by itself an e-mail to which digital image data is attached.In this case, the digital photo frame can directly receive image datafrom a cellar phone far away, as well as receiving image data from aneighboring cellar phone by means of wired communication or short-rangewireless communication.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital image viewing system comprising: aplurality of wireless phone units each including a phone short-rangewireless communicator to transmit digital image data, an operatingportion, a phone display cooperating with the operating portion foroperations and displays relating to various phone functions, and arechargeable battery to power the wireless phone unit; and a digitalphoto frame registered by the plurality of wireless phone units as adestination of the digital image data, the digital photo frame includinga memory arranged to store digital image data, a photo frame display, acontroller arranged to play usual slide show on the display on the basisof the digital image data stored in the memory, a photo frameshort-range wireless communicator in communication with the phoneshort-range wireless communicator to receive the digital image data fromthe plurality of wireless phone units, and an identifier of the digitalimage data received from different ones of the plurality of wirelessphone units, wherein the controller is arranged to compare the digitalimage data received from one of the plurality of wireless phone unitswith the digital image data received from another of the plurality ofwireless phone units on the basis of the identifier, and wherein thecontroller is further arranged to change the image display on the photoframe display in response to the photo frame short-range wirelesscommunicator in communication with the phone short-range wirelesscommunicator, and wherein the controller is arranged not to change theimage display on the photo frame display if the controller detects thatthe digital image data received from one of the plurality of wirelessphone units is identical with the digital image data received fromanother of the plurality of wireless phone units.
 2. The digital imageviewing system according to claim 1, wherein the digital photo framefurther includes a speaker, and wherein the controller of the digitalphoto frame is arranged to replace the usual slide show with a specialimage when the speaker plays a ringer melody on the speaker.
 3. Thedigital image viewing system according to claim 2, wherein thecontroller is further arranged to superimpose a message on the specialimage when the speaker plays the ringer melody.
 4. The digital imageviewing system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is furtherarranged to have the usual slide show accompanied by background musicplayed on the speaker and to stop the background music when the speakerplays the ringer melody.
 5. The digital image viewing system accordingto claim 2, wherein the special image is relating to the ringer melody.6. The digital image viewing system according to claim 5, wherein thespecial image is relating to a person causing the ringer melody.
 7. Thedigital image viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the phoneshort-range communicator is arranged to transmit an operation at theoperating portion to the digital photo frame by way of the photo frameshort-range wireless communicator to change the display on the photoframe.
 8. The digital image viewing system according to claim 1, whereinthe digital photo frame further includes a phone function unit.
 9. Thedigital image viewing system according to claim 1, wherein each of thewireless phone units further includes a phone function unit.
 10. Thedigital image viewing system according to claim 9, wherein each of thewireless phone units is a cellar phone, wherein the phone function unitis capable of receiving an e-mail with digital image data attached,wherein the cellar phone includes a mail controller arranged toautomatically open the received e-mail to automatically take out andtransmit the attached digital image data to the digital photo frame bymeans of the phone short-range wireless communicator.
 11. The digitalimage viewing system according to claim 10, wherein the mail controlleris arranged not to automatically take out the attached digital imagedata in response to the checker if the digital image data is inhibitedby the sender from being transmitted for display.
 12. The digital imageviewing system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arrangedto change the usual slide show into a special image in response to thephoto frame short-range wireless communicator in communication with thephone short-range wireless communicator.
 13. The digital image viewingsystem according to claim 12, wherein the special image is the digitalimage data received from one of the plurality of wireless phone units bymeans of the photo frame short-range wireless communicator.